Name: Naikan
ISBN: 9781880656631

Gregg Krech

This Japanese practice of life meditation and self-examination teaches us gratitude and compassion.

Gratitude, Grace, and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection

Naikan

Jeremy Anderberg

“We notice the obstacles because we have to get around them to proceed. But what if we go through life only noticing obstacles, problems, and difficulties? Shouldn’t we expect our experience to be one of anger, hurt, disappointment, and anxiety? What about the support, care, and kindness we receive each day? Through such awareness, we discover the invisible gifts of life.”

While making goals for the year ahead is important, equally valuable is spending plenty of time looking in the mirror regarding the year gone by. Krech is a therapist in the tradition of Japanese morita—an action-based style of therapy. One of his older books is all about naikan, or, as the subtitle lets on, the Japanese art of self-reflection.

Krech challenges the reader to examine each of their relationships—with their partner, children, siblings, coworkers, friends, etc.—and ask three primary questions:

What have I received from ____?
What have I given to ____?
What troubles and difficulties have I caused ____?

The entire book expounds on these ideas, forcing you outside of your own head and experience (a theme shared by all the books here in this week’s newsletter). It’s sometimes a little cheesy, but going through it will make you a better person heading into 2021. Period.

Gets 4 stars not for the writing, but for what this book will give you.

Naikan Gratitude, Grace, and the Japanese Art of Self-Reflection

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